Renovated humane society prepares to open

Nicole Carper, director of operation with the Blue Ridge Humane Society, checks on Petunia, one of the dogs staying in the new kennels that have been installed during a recent remodel.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By Than AxtellTimes-News staff writer

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 5:13 p.m.

EDNEYVILLE — Petunia was ecstatic, jumping for joy as Nicole Carper opened the door of her gleaming new kennel at Blue Ridge Humane Society.

The 6-month-old English setter mix bounded into the aisle, overjoyed to have some company. Adopted out as a wee puppy, she returned to the Humane Society last week after her new mom realized she couldn't exercise her as much as needed.

Petunia, along with a 3-year-old Lab-cattle dog mix named Bella, are pet pioneers of sorts, the first furry residents of the newly renovated Humane Society, which will reopen to the public Feb. 5 after being closed four months for construction.

The 6,000-square-foot building received a $200,000 facelift that shelter workers say makes the 1980s-era facility friendlier for man and beast alike. There are new alcoves for adoptive parents to get to know pets, isolation rooms to keep sick animals from spreading illness and modern fixtures to ease work for volunteers.

Contractors replaced buckling vinyl floors with seamless ones that are easier to clean, replaced 32 old kennels with 28 new ones reconfigured to reduce dogs' stress, and added a new heating/cooling system, along with other cosmetic and space-efficiency upgrades.

Carper, the society's director of operations, believes the changes will reduce the length of stay for strays by making animals more calm and comfortable, so they make a better impression on would-be adopters.

“The staff knows these dogs,” Carper said. “But as a member of the public, you go by what you see when you go into a shelter. So when you see a dog relaxed and napping in his kennel, as opposed to one who's just focused on barking at the other dogs, that animal seems more adoptable to you. I think it's really going to make a difference.”

A side effect of the renovations was the fostering out of roughly 40 cats and dogs while construction occurred. Though about 8 to 10 cats will return to the shelter from foster care, only one dog is scheduled to come back. Carper said the foster stays gave “hard-to-adopt” animals a fresh chance at adoption.

“For some reason, they didn't do well in a shelter environment, which is a little bit more high-stress,” she said. “They did so much better at the foster home. They were more relaxed, so the foster parents were able to find a home through their networks or they fell in love and decided to adopt themselves. That was a really positive experience for us.”

Renovations to a rear dog-holding area are the biggest improvements, Carper said. Fourteen kennels were realigned so dogs don't face each other anymore, reducing barking and “fence-fighting.” New sound-absorption panels help dampen the din as well.

Each kennel has its own drain and flushing mechanism, which allows them to be cleaned individually, saving water and staff time. Contractors also poured a fresh concrete floor, which raised its level even with adjacent hallways, and installed a new roof to replace leaky skylights.

“The other huge thing about this section is we upgraded our HVAC,” Carper said. “Before, we really had a difficult time keeping this heated. In the winter, we'd literally have jackets on all the dogs and we still couldn't keep them warm. We'd have the heat cranked up to 80 degrees but our thermostat would read 56. It was insane, and the amount of propane we were using was ridiculous.”

Before adding air conditioning, summer was even worse, for dogs and for the impression it left on visitors, she said.

“It was so uninviting to a member of the public to come in here in the middle of July and the first thing you're greeted by is this big industrial fan making all this noise, and this blast of heat that hits you in the face as you open the door,” she said. “I'm super excited about the HVAC.”

Cats and kittens got new digs, too, with new seamless floors that don't soak up urine, scratch-free walls and tiered beds and climbing surfaces. Spacious cat condos will replace cramped steel cages, which Carper said looked “institutional” and unwelcoming.

“We want people to walk in and feel more homey; a more welcoming kind of feel instead of seeing bars,” she said.

Less obvious to the public, but thrilling to staff members, are the little changes: a three-basin sink that makes disinfecting pet dishes less arduous, a remodeled break room and a shiny new dog-washing tub complete with fold-out stairs that convert to a ramp.

“Before, the staff would have to hoist them into that restaurant sink,” Carper said. “When you're lifting up a 65- to 70-pound dog, you really appreciate steps.”

Although the Humane Society is reopening its doors next month, staff members plan to host an official “grand opening” sometime in the spring, Carper said, “when the weather is nicer so we can have a big party and have all the public out.”

<p>EDNEYVILLE — Petunia was ecstatic, jumping for joy as Nicole Carper opened the door of her gleaming new kennel at Blue Ridge Humane Society.</p><p>The 6-month-old English setter mix bounded into the aisle, overjoyed to have some company. Adopted out as a wee puppy, she returned to the Humane Society last week after her new mom realized she couldn't exercise her as much as needed.</p><p>Petunia, along with a 3-year-old Lab-cattle dog mix named Bella, are pet pioneers of sorts, the first furry residents of the newly renovated Humane Society, which will reopen to the public Feb. 5 after being closed four months for construction.</p><p>The 6,000-square-foot building received a $200,000 facelift that shelter workers say makes the 1980s-era facility friendlier for man and beast alike. There are new alcoves for adoptive parents to get to know pets, isolation rooms to keep sick animals from spreading illness and modern fixtures to ease work for volunteers.</p><p>Contractors replaced buckling vinyl floors with seamless ones that are easier to clean, replaced 32 old kennels with 28 new ones reconfigured to reduce dogs' stress, and added a new heating/cooling system, along with other cosmetic and space-efficiency upgrades.</p><p>Carper, the society's director of operations, believes the changes will reduce the length of stay for strays by making animals more calm and comfortable, so they make a better impression on would-be adopters. </p><p>“The staff knows these dogs,” Carper said. “But as a member of the public, you go by what you see when you go into a shelter. So when you see a dog relaxed and napping in his kennel, as opposed to one who's just focused on barking at the other dogs, that animal seems more adoptable to you. I think it's really going to make a difference.”</p><p>A side effect of the renovations was the fostering out of roughly 40 cats and dogs while construction occurred. Though about 8 to 10 cats will return to the shelter from foster care, only one dog is scheduled to come back. Carper said the foster stays gave “hard-to-adopt” animals a fresh chance at adoption.</p><p>“For some reason, they didn't do well in a shelter environment, which is a little bit more high-stress,” she said. “They did so much better at the foster home. They were more relaxed, so the foster parents were able to find a home through their networks or they fell in love and decided to adopt themselves. That was a really positive experience for us.”</p><p>Renovations to a rear dog-holding area are the biggest improvements, Carper said. Fourteen kennels were realigned so dogs don't face each other anymore, reducing barking and “fence-fighting.” New sound-absorption panels help dampen the din as well.</p><p>Each kennel has its own drain and flushing mechanism, which allows them to be cleaned individually, saving water and staff time. Contractors also poured a fresh concrete floor, which raised its level even with adjacent hallways, and installed a new roof to replace leaky skylights. </p><p>“The other huge thing about this section is we upgraded our HVAC,” Carper said. “Before, we really had a difficult time keeping this heated. In the winter, we'd literally have jackets on all the dogs and we still couldn't keep them warm. We'd have the heat cranked up to 80 degrees but our thermostat would read 56. It was insane, and the amount of propane we were using was ridiculous.”</p><p>Before adding air conditioning, summer was even worse, for dogs and for the impression it left on visitors, she said.</p><p>“It was so uninviting to a member of the public to come in here in the middle of July and the first thing you're greeted by is this big industrial fan making all this noise, and this blast of heat that hits you in the face as you open the door,” she said. “I'm super excited about the HVAC.”</p><p>Cats and kittens got new digs, too, with new seamless floors that don't soak up urine, scratch-free walls and tiered beds and climbing surfaces. Spacious cat condos will replace cramped steel cages, which Carper said looked “institutional” and unwelcoming. </p><p>“We want people to walk in and feel more homey; a more welcoming kind of feel instead of seeing bars,” she said.</p><p>Less obvious to the public, but thrilling to staff members, are the little changes: a three-basin sink that makes disinfecting pet dishes less arduous, a remodeled break room and a shiny new dog-washing tub complete with fold-out stairs that convert to a ramp. </p><p>“Before, the staff would have to hoist them into that restaurant sink,” Carper said. “When you're lifting up a 65- to 70-pound dog, you really appreciate steps.”</p><p>Although the Humane Society is reopening its doors next month, staff members plan to host an official “grand opening” sometime in the spring, Carper said, “when the weather is nicer so we can have a big party and have all the public out.”</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>